Speed exhibiting device



1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES 2,326,248

SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ELNJEHULJDEE BY MQWRM ATTORNEY 8 1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES 2,326,248

SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Decv 11, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 .v \\w v INVENTOR EEML'HUL DEE s M XM ATTORNEY 1943- E. cmcuounss 2,326,248

SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ECNJCHULJDEE ATTORNEY 1943- E. c. NICHOLIDES 2,326,248

SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EE/YJ/IHULJDEE S M R/11M ATTORNEY E. C. NICHOLIDES SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ELZNFCHULJDEE BY g Mqmu ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPEED EXHIBITING DEVICE Emmanuel Christ Nicholides, Chicago, Ill. Application December 11, 1942, Serial No. 468,683 (Ci. 264-1) Claims.

indication if the maximum speed is maintained during a predetermined period or distance of travel; and the combination of such indicating device with means for recording this maximum speed indication.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will be best understood from the following description of an exemplification thereof i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side view of the assembled speed indicating and recording device;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device with the cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device along the line 4-4 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view ofthe enclosed mechanism along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the cover structure along the line 1-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portionof the cover structure along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the operating key handle;

Fig. 10 is a front view of the operating key handle;

Fig. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional viewof the printing mechanism along the line l|ll of Fig. v

Fig. 12 is a detailed view of the indicator driving disc;

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view of the indicator ratchet wheel along the line l3-I3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a partial horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 5 indicating another operating condition;

Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the line |5-l 5 ofFig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional view along line Iii-l5 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a similar view to Fig. 14 under difierent operating conditions;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view of the indicator driving disc follower along the line l8-I8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a vertical crossssection'al view along the line 19-18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a detailed sectional view similar to Fig. 16 under diilerent. operating conditions;

Fig. 21 is a vertical end view of the reset pin operating cam;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 showing the operating cam in its engaged position;

Fig. 23 is a detailed sectional view of the indicator locking wheel and retaining pawl under operating conditions similiar to Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to 23 under the same operating condition as Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the indicator mechanism showing its coupling connection to an electrical switch for operating colored lights; and

Fig. 26 is a sectional view of the switch along the line 26-26 of Fig. 25 and the electrical circuit connecting it to a battery and series of lights.

Thuci: owners have learned that by controlling the maximum speed with which their trucks are driven, considerable savings are made as a result of the reduced consumption of gasoline and oil; and the reduced wear and tear on the vehicle. As a result, attempts have been made to control the maximum speed of trucks by means of speed governors.

Governors, however, have their limitations. A vehicle equipped with a speed governor is very dangerous, as its pick-up is too sluggish for safety in cases of emergency. At the same time, the governor does not control the speed of the vehicle while coasting, allowing the driver to speed the vehicle down grades.

This invention provides a device which indicates the speed acquired by a moving vehicle if the speed exceeds a certain maximum value and retains this indication if the higher speed is maintained for a short distance. As a result, the driver of the vehicle has availabl at all times the full power of the vehicle and may use it in emergencies or in passing other slow moving vehicles without the indication of the device being retained, while assuring that a record of the higher speed is made, if he travels at the higher speed for a predetermined excessive time or distance.

A recording mechanism in combination with the indicating device enables an inspector, at the end of a run by the vehicle, to make a. permanent means of screws 23 and spacer posts 24, two addi-. tional mounting plates 28, 28 fitting the interior of the casing.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, on a governor shaft 38 journaled in bearings 3|, 32, secured to the inward mounting plate 28, is mounted a centrifugal governor formed by weights 38 linked by links 84, 38 to two collars 38, 31 seated on the shaft 88, collar 38 being aiii'xed to the shaft as by means of pin 88. and the other elongated collar 3'| being free to slide on the shaft so that the centrifugal action of the governor weights 33 moves the collar 31 along the shaft toward collar 38 against the action of spring 48 to aposition corresponding to the momentary speed imparted to the shaft 88.

On one end, the shaft 38 is provided with a squared portion 42 arranged for coupling to the end of a flexible shaft 43 by means of a coupling member 44 threadedly fitting over a nipple extending from the casing 28. .The other end of shaft 38 is provided with a worm 48 which drives gear 48 (Fig. engaging driving gear 41 of a clutch member 48 revolvably mounted on. shaft 48 on which is slidlngly keyed a clutch member 88. On the upward end of clutch shaft 48 is mounted an arm 8|, as by meansof screw 52; so that when the clutch members 48 and 88 are in coupling engagement, the rotation of the governor shaft rotates arm 8| and a pin 83 projecting from the arm. The rotation of arm 5| and its pin 53 will be proportional to the rotation of the governor shaft, so that one revolution of the arm 5| will correspond to a. predetermined distance traveled by the vehicle.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 illustrating the normal rest position of the parts, the slidable clutch member 58 is provided with a collar 54 engaged by the forked end of a supporting arm 85 suitably pivoted on pedestal 58, so that under the action of a biasing spring 57, the supporting arm 85 moves the clutch member 88 into coupling engagement with the gear driven clutch member 48 for rotating the control arm 6|. By moving the arm 55 against the action of spring 51, the coupling engagement between the driving gear H and the clutch shaft 49 may be broken.

The momentary position of the longitudinally slidable collar 31 is determined by the speed of rotation imparted to the governor shaft 38 by the flexible shaft 43. The surface of the slidable collar 31 is provided with circular teeth which, as shown in Fig. 6, are arranged to engage a gear wheel 88 mounted on a shaft 8| supported between the mounted plates 28, 28, for turning, through the engagement of its gear 82 with gear \83, a vertically journaled shaft of an indicator driving disc 84 having a periphery provided with cam-like teeth 85. As a. result, the angular position of the disc 84 corresponds at all times to the momentary speed imparted to the governor shaft 38 by the flexible shaft 43, which in turn corresponds to the speed of the vehicle with which the apparatus is associated.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5.; and 19, the indicator driving or position disc 84 has a driving pin 88 arranged to engage a projecting lug 81 ofanindicator wheel 88, which is fixed on ashaft 88' that wheel shaft 88' carries an indicator arm 18, .which, as shown in Fig. 3, has a raised pointer portion cooperating with a circular scale 12 having raised dial numerals l8 on'which pointer indicates the speed of the vehicle, the indicator wheel 84 and the pointer forming thus a speed index member. The circular scale 12 may be formed of a metal channel 14 filled with lead or solder to which is fused a steel sheet 18, on which are formed raised scale numerals 13. The indicator arm 18 rides on a ball 18 which rolls over the underlying surface portion of the mounting plate 2| so as to reduce friction and provide a support for the indicator I8.

As'shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, l5 and 19, the indicator wheel shaft. 88' is surrounded by two ratchet discs l8 and i8, assembled into one unit 88 and an indicator locking wheel which is pivotally mounted on a bearing member 82 secured" to mounting plate 2|. The indicator wheel 88 is elastically coupled'to the indicator locking wheel 88 by a spiral spring 89 extending from the upper coupling lug 81' of the indicator wheel 88 to the hub of the indicator locking wheel 88, so that the spring 88 tends to maintain the coupling lug 81 of the indicator wheel 88 in driving engagement with the coupling pin 8| of the indicator locking wheel 88.

' As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the indicator wheel 88 and the locking wheel 88 form peripheral ratchets. The lower locking ratchet disc 18 is normally locked by a. pivotally mounted retaining pawl 83 that is biased by spring 84. The pawl 88 is arranged to control the operation of pawl 85 by means ofa spring 88 coupling the two I mum speed position to which it is advanced by the indicator wheel 88 through the medium of the spiral coupling spring 89.

The several elements of the indicator driving mechanism are so arranged and designed that in the normal position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the indicator wheel 88 will follow the motion of the indicator driving disc 84, while looking wheel 88 is prevented from moving in clockwise direction by pawl 83 and in counter-clockwise direction by pawl 88; and so that upon actuation of the pawls 83, 85 to the position of Figs. 17 and 20, in' which the indicator wheel is locked against clockwise motion and the locking wheel is released so that it is free to be rotated in clockwise direction by the spiral couplingspring 88 until its pin 8| comes into engagement with the lug 81' of the indicator wheel corresponding to the maximum speed position of the indicator 18,

. andtheindicator ratchet 88 with its ratchet pawl85, are controlled by a special control mechanism, one form of which will now be described in connection with Figs. 4, 5, 14, 15 and 1'1. It

comprises a pivotally mounted clutch operating lever 90 having at its one end a hook-shaped cam member 87, cooperating with the cam pin 93 of an articulated clutch support extension 94 pivotally mounted on the upper end of the clutch support lever 55. The clutchoperating lever 90 is so arranged that when it is moved from the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 17, against the biasing action of its spring 95 to the position shown in Fig. 14, its hook-shaped cam member 92 releases the cam pin 93 of the clutch support extension 94 and the clutch support 55, which is then pulled by its biasing spring 51 to the clutch coupling position shown in Fig. 15 in which the driving gear 41 is coupled to clutch shaft 49 for. rotating the control arm 5|; and that when the clutch operating lever 90 is returned by its biasing spring 95 from the position shown in Fig. 14 to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 1'7, the cam hook 92 of the clutch operating lever 90 acting on pin 93 of the clutch support link 94 pulls the clutch support 55 so as to lift the clutch member 50 to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 17, and break the coupling connection between the clutch shaft 49 and the clutch driving gear 41.

The'clutch lever 90 is biased by its spring 95 to its normal clutch uncoupling position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and is arranged to be locked by the engagement of its catch 9| with the hook 99 of a pivotally mounted latch lever I when the clutch lever 90 is tilted to its uncoupling position shownin Figs, 14 and 15, the latch lever I00 being biased by a spring IOI so that in the normal position, the outer hook side rests against the outer side of catch 9| of the clutch lever 90. The spring 95 has sufficient stored energy for actuating the clutch lever to return from the position of Figs. 14, 15 to the position of Figs. 4 and 5, and break the clutch coupling when the latch I00 is tilted against its biasing spring IIII to release the engagement of its hook 99 with N the catch 9| of the clutch lever 90.

As shown in Figs. 5. 14, 17 and 18, there is also provided an actuating lever I05 pivoted at I 06 and biased by spring I01 to press a. follower I08 against the periphery of indicator driving disc 64. The follower I08 is pivotally mounted on the end of actuating lever I05 and biased by spring I09 toward a stop |I0 so as to leave the actuating lever I05 unaifected when the indicator or driving disc 64 rotates counter-clockwise under conditions of decreasing speed; but to be actuated by cam teeth 65 of disc 54 when it rotates clockwise on an increase in speed, for tilting the actuating lever I05 into engagement with the adjacent arm of the clutch operating lever 90 so as to tilt it against the tension of its biasing spring 95 to release at its cam hook 92 the cam lock pin 93 of the clutch support lever 55 so that it may be pulled by its biasing spring 51 to its clutch coupling position shown in Fig.

in which the worm gear 45 rotates the control or delay action arm 5| in clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 14, until, in the end position of its rotation, in moving from the position of Fig. 17 to the normal position of Fig. 5, it tilts the end of the latch lever I00 out of its path against the. tension of spring |0l while unlatching the clutch lever 80 from its latched position in Fig. 14. l

The retaining pawl 83 of the locking ratchet disc I8, the clutch latch lever I00 and the rotary control arm pin 53 are so shaped and arranged that when the control arm 5| with its pin 53, in the course of the rotation, reach the dotted line position of Fig.'17, the pin 53 trips the retaining pawl 83 to release the lower ratchet disc I9 and permit the indicator locking wheel 80 to be rotated by the tension of coupling spring 59 in a clockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 20. In addition, the counter-clockwise tilting motion oi pawl 83 exerts a force on one end of a coiled spring 86 so that its other end forces pawl 85 against the toothed periphery of the indicator ratchet wheel I58 so as to lock it and prevent it from being advanced by the force exerted on its lug 81 by pin 8| of the released and advancing indicator locking wheel.

In the course of the further rotation 01' the control arm 5| to the position shown in Fig. 17, the retaining pawl 83 is released and returned by its biasing spring 84 to its normal position shown in Figs. 4 and 14, looking the lower ratchet disc I8 and stopping further clockwise rotation of the indicator locking wheel 80. The return of pawl 83 from the position of Fig. 1'7 to the position of Fig. 4, releases the external force on spring 86 which returns to position of Fig. 4 so as to disengage pawl from indicator ratchet wheel 58 and permit it to be advanced in a clockwise direction if its lug 61 is engaged by the pin 66 of the driving ratchet 64. On reaching the final position shown in Fig. 17, the lower portion of the rotary pin 53 trips clutch latch lever I00 to release the clutch lever 90 and permit it to be returned by its biasing spring to its normal position shown in Figs. 4 and 17. in which the driving gear 41 is uncoupled from the clutch shaft 49, thereby stopping the rotary motion of the control arm 5|.

The control mechanism described above in combination with the control arm 5| and the elastic coupling of the indicator ratchet wheel 58 to the indicator locking wheel 80 by the spiral coupling spring 69, form a delay action mechanism which looks the indicator ID in a maximum speed position to which it was advanced after a predetermined delay, the delay depending upon a predetermined distance traveled by the vehicle, following a sudden increase of speed.

Although the entire cam-like periphery 65 0f the indicator driving disc 64 may be provided with cam teeth for operating in the way described above over the entire speed range, the form of the invention applied to commercial vehicles such as trucks, may be provided with an indicator driving disc 54 having a cam surface arranged in the way shown in Fig. 12. The circular periphery of the driving disc 64 is shown provided with a section 5 without teeth which is engaged by the The peripheral sec-v miles, for instance, moves one tooth past the follower I88 for actuating the associated mechanism. As shown in Fig. 13, the lower ratchet disc I8 has also corresponding peripheral sections I I1, II8, section I" being equal in arc length to section I I5 of indicator driving disc 85 and having no ratchet teeth, while section 8 is provided with teeth. As a result, the indicator locking wheel 88 which is coupled to the driving disc 84 by the coupling spring 89 follows the clockwise rotation of the indicator driving disc 85 as the speed of the vehicle is increased up to 20 miles, at which point the retaining pawl 83 freely riding on peripheral section I II of the lower ratchet disc I8 engages the first tooth of peripheral section 8, thereby preventing further rotation of the indicator looking wheel 88.

As long as the speed of the vehicle is in the low speed range, corresponding to the peripheral section 5 of indicator driving or position disc 84 (Fig. 12) and section I I! of lower ratchet locking disc I8 (Fig. 13), the indicator driving pin 68 will advance the indicator ratchet wheel 68 and therethrough indicator I8; while the coupling spring 68 similarly advances the indicator locking wheel 88 to the maximum speed position reached within this range in which the indicator locking wheel 88 will be retained by retaining pawl 88 (Fig. 17). The follower I88 which is riding on the locking wheel 88 is not actuated in this range, and the clutch lever 98 remains in its normal uncoupling position shown in Fig. 1'7 so that the rotation of the governor shaft 38 does not in any way affect the control arm 5| which remains in the position shown in Fig. 5.

As soon as the speed of the vehicle is increased to a value higher than the low speed range, for instance, above 20 miles per hour, corresponding to the peripheral section I I6 of the indicator driving disc 64 and section I I8 of lower ratchet wheel I8, the operation of the mechanism will be as follows:

The indicator or position disc 64 with its driving pin 66 will engage the lower extension of lug 61 and advance the indicator position wheel 68 with the attached indicator I8 to the position indicating the momentary speed of the vehicle, while the upper extension 61 of lug 61 becomes disengaged from pin 8| of the indicator locking wheel 88, in the way shown in Fig. 16. Simultaneously, the first tooth of periphery 6 of the indicator driving disc 64 will actuate follower I88 to tilt actuating lever I85 against the arm of the clutch lever 98 until it releases the clutch support 55 so as to couple the clutch shaft 49 to the driving gear 41 and start the rotation of the control arm 5|. When the rotating'arm 5| brings its pin 53 to the dotted position 53' shown in Fig. 17, its pin 53 tilts pawl 83 and therethrough pawl 85, releasing locking disc I8 and locking indicator position wheel 68. As a result, indicator locking wheel 88 will, under the tension of the coupling venting its further advance, and releasing at pawl 88 the indicator position wheel 88 so as to allow it to be advanced to a higher speed indication while the engagement of its lug 81' with pin 8| of sprin 89 advance until its pin 8| again engages it from the coupling position of the clutch, shown in Fig. 14, to the uncoupled position shown in Figs. 4 and 17, thereby stopping the rotation of arm 5 I.

In addition, the control pin 53 releases pawls 83 and 85 which are returned by their springs to their respective normal positions shown in Fig. 5, locking the indicator locking wheel 88 and prethe locked indicator locking wheel 88 retains it in the maximum speed position to which it was advanced.

Should the speed of the vehicle be again increased, the procedure described above will be repeated. If the running speed of the vehicle is maintained during a. complete revolution of the control arm 5| and if it is higher than the maximum speed on which the indicator locking wheel 88 is locked, then at the end of one revolution of the control arm 5|, the indicator locking wheel 88 will advance to the new position where it will be retained. However, if the running speed of the vehicle is decreased to the maximum speed on which the indicator locking wheel 88 is locked, or to a. lower speed, before the control arm 5| completes one revolution,'the indicator locking wheel remains in the same locked position. As a result, the indication of the highest speed attained by a vehicle will be retained if the high speed is maintained during the predetermined traveled distance.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 9, all the elements of the speed indicating mechanism are mounted on, and are carried by the mounting plate 2|, and constitute a self-supporting unitary device operative to indicate the maximum speed reached by the vehicle, the mounting plate 2| being secured to the open side of the casing 28 and having the index member 'II and the cooperating scale exposed on the exterior side of the mounting plate.

A speed indicating device of the type described above may be mounted on the dash-board of a car so that its indicator I8 with the scale I2 shall be exposed to view, being suitably enclosed, for instance, by a transparent cover of plastic material. An inspector provided with a standard camera would merely have to snap a picture of the indicator I8 and the scale I2, together with the vehicle identification S-|88 in order to provide a conclusiverecord of the maximum speed the vehicle had acquired during its run, as indicated by the pointer on the scale.

A distinct phase of the present invention is the combination of a maximum speed indicating device of the foregoing type with a recording or printing mechanism arranged so as to make it possible to imprint a record of the maximum speed indication on simple duplicate slips of paper. In Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 11 is shown one form of a recording mechanism for enabling simple and quick recording of the speed indication, as well as identifying or other pertinent data that would be useful in establishing a permanent record of the maximum speed with which the particular vehicle traveled during a run.

In the form shown in the drawings, the recording mechanism is mounted in a cover member I25 which is secured to the casing 28 above the mounting plate 2|. In a hollow cover compartment facing the indicator scale I2 is mounted a guide plate I26 held, for instance, by screws I21, and provided with guide grooves I28 for guiding arms I29 of a platen I38 movable in a direction towards indicator scale I2. The platen I38 is normally held in a raised position by helical springs |3| placed between guide arms I29 of the platen I38 and the underlying portions of the guide plate I26. Fitted properly and attached to the platen I30 and facing scale 12 is a scale I32 made of a shell I33 having a steel sheet I34 withv depressed numerals I35 fused thereto by a lead filling. Scale I32 is arranged to match scale 12 in such a way that when it is brought down against scale I2, the numerals I of scale '12 coincide and fit into numerals I35 of scale I32.

or more leaves of printing material I39 such as 1 pointer I0, a permanent record will be imprinted upon the sheaves, showing the maximum speed the vehicle had acquired during its run, as indicated by the pointer on the scale.

The actuating mechanism for the printing platen I30 comprises a shaft I40 having one end journalled in hearing I attached to the cover I25, and the other end attached to the inward end of a standard lock I42 secured to the top of the cover by means of screws I43, and having its operating end extending through the cover compartment; and an eccentric cam member I44 attached to the shaft I40 as by means of a pressiit. An operating handle I45 with a key-shaped extension I46 fits into the slot I41 of the outwardly projecting barrel of lock I42 for operating it. When the handle is turned, the eccentric cam I44 rotates and displaces the.printing platen I30 forcing it against the sheaf of papers inserted into the slot I38 for performing a printing operation. Upon performing the printing operation, the printing platen I30 is automatically returned to its raised position by the springs I3I, while at the same time under the biasing action of spring I48, the handle returns to its normal position from which it can be removed from the lock I42.

As shown in Figs. 6, 21, 22, 23 and 24, the actuating member of the recording mechanism simultaneously operates the indicator reset mechanism. The reset mechanism comprises a slidably mounted pin I50 extending through plate H6 and having a cam-shaped lower end arranged to engage the cam-like end of the pawl 88 which locks the indicator lock wheel 80. The upper end of pin I50 is provided with a cap-like head arranged to be engaged by cam arm I52 pivotally mounted on collar I5I attached to the end of shaft I40 and biased by a spring 654 against a stop pin I53. When the operating handle I45 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 21, to perform the printing operation, cam I52 rides smoothly over the cap of pin I50, until the sheafs of paper are compressed, at which point under the biasing action of spring I54, it slips off the pin and comes to rest against the stop pin l53, in the dotted position I53 of Fig. 21. the handle I45 is released, the shaft I40 with the collar i5I are returned by the biasing spring to the normal position. In doing so, the col- 5i actuates the cam arm I52 to press the release pin. in downward direction, and causes it to actuate the retaining pawl 88 to release the indicator locking wheel 80, which under the biasing action of spiral spring 89, will return the ina green light may correspond to a speed of dicator I0 to zero indication. Cam arm I52 is then returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 21 by the pressure exerted on pin I50 by the biasing spring I55.

The maximum speed indicating and recording device described above may also be used for operating the usual speed indicator I00 which may, for instance, be mounted in one of the side walls of the casing and driven through gearing I6I, I62 and I63 and I64 by the indicator disc driving shaft in the way shown in Figs. 4 and 25.

The speed indicating and recording device described above may also be used for operating a series of differently colored signal lights attached to the front and rear end of the vehicle. The purpose of these lights is to advertise the speed with which the vehicle is traveling, for instance,

miles or less, a yellow light to a speed of less 20 than miles, but more than 20 miles, and the red light to a speed of more than30 miles. The use of these lights may have a psychological bearing upon the driver of the vehicle and cause him to keep to the speed within the allowable limits, as the lights will show all observers the speed with which the vehicle is traveling.

As shown in Figs. 25 and 26, a light control switch having an insulated disc i attached to mounting plate 20 and having electrical contact segments I8I is arranged to cooperate with a contact arm I83 driven by an extension of the indicator driving shaft I82. An electric cable I84 connects each contact strip I8I to a corresponding electric light bulb I85 and the storage battery of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 26. As the indicator driving disc 35 is rotated to correspond with the running speed of the vehicle, the arm I83 contacts the corresponding strips I8I and thereby closes the circuit of its corresponding light.

In the speed measuring or indicating device described above as specific exemplifications of the invention, the speed measuring or index member is associated with locking means including a locking or follower member, such as represented by the ratchet wheels 80, which is arranged to be actuated after a predetermined time delay, represented, for instance, by a predetermined motion of the driving means to lock the measuring or index member in a position to which it was brought during a speed increase. In order to perform its function, the locking means embody retaining means in the form of pawls, for retaining the locking or follower member in the locked position, as well as biasing means, represented by the spring 59, for urging the measuring member to assume the position corresponding to the position of the follower look-- ing member, as-Well as preventing means in the form of pawls and the coupling mechanism, for preventing the locking or follower member from following the motion of the measuring member upon the occurrence of a speed increase, and operative to eliminate the preventive action after a predetermined time delay represented by a predetermined motion of the driving means.

Various other mechanisms and arrangements thanthose described above in connection with specific exemplifications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art .for speed measuring and recording mechanisms operating in accordance with the principles of the invention. It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific detail shown and described in connection with the exemplifioations of the invention.

I claim:

ing a movable follower member arranged to follow the motion of said measuring member and operative to lock said measuring member in positions of difierent speeds, and control means operative upon the occurrence of a speed increase to exert a preventive action preventing said locking means from locking said measuring member in a position corresponding to said speed increase,

said control means including means actuated after a predetermined timing action to eliminate said preventive action.

2. In a speed measuring device, from which,

, for example, a printed record of the speed inv dication of a moving body may be made: driving means moving at the rate of speed to be measured, means including a measuring member and means actuated by said driving means to move said measuring member to positions corresponding to its difi'erent speeds, locking means including a follower.member arranged to follow in a predetermined manner the motion of said measuring member and to be locked in a position corresponding in a predetermined manner to a speed position of said measuring member, said locking means including means urging said measuring member to assume a position corresponding to the locked position of said follower member, and control means operative to exert a preventing action preventing said follower member from following the motion of said measuring member and arranged to be actuated after a predetermined timing action following the attainment of a. speed in excess of a predetermined magnitude to eliminate said preventing action.

3. In a speed indicating device, from which, for example, a printed record of the speed indication of a moving body may be made: driving means moving atthe rate of speed to be indicated,.means includingan index number and means actuated by said driving means to move said index member to positions corresponding to its different speeds, locking means including a follower member arranged to follow in a predetermined manner the motion of said index member and to be locked in a position corresponding to a speed position of said index member and operative to bring said index member to a position corresponding to the locked position of'said follower member, said locking means including retaining means for retaining said follower member in a locked position, and control means including a movable preventing member actuable toexert' a preventing action preventing said follower member from being retained in a. locked position upon the occurrence'of a speed increase and means including a movable restoring member actuated after a predetermined time delay action following the attainment of a speed in excess of a predetermined magnitude to eliminate the preventive action of said preventing member.

s. In a speed indicating device, from which, for example, a printed record of the speed indication of a movingbody may be made: driving means moving at the rate of speed to be indicated, means including an index member and means actuated by said driving means to move said index member to positions corresponding to its different speeds, locking means including a.

follower member arranged to follow in a predetermined manner the motion of said index member and to be lockedin a position corresponding to a speed position of said index member and operative to bring said index member to a position corresponding to the locked position of said follower member, said locking means including retaining means for retaining said follower member in a locked position, and means actuated by the motion of said driving means for eliminating the retaining action of said retaining means after a predetermined time delay action following the attainment of a speed in excess of a predetermined magnitude and for restoring the retaining actionafter said follower member is advanced to a position of higher speed. a

5. In a speed indicating device, from which, forexample, a printed record of the speed indication of a moving body may be made: driving means moving at the rate of speed to be indicated, means including an index member and means actuated by said driving means to move said index member to positions corresponding to its difierent speeds, locking means including a follower member arranged to follow in a predetermined manner the motion of said index member and to be locked in a position corresponding to a speed position of said index 'member and operative to bring said index member to a position corresponding to the locked position of said follower member, said locking means including retaining means for retaining said follower member in a locked position, control means operative to exert a preventive action preventing said follower member from being retained in a locked position upon the occurrence of a speed increase and actuated after a predetermined timing action to eliminate said preventive action.

EMNIANUEL CHRIST NICHOLIDES. 

